James Percival Coombes

Captain James “Jimmy” Percival Coombes
26 Apr 1922 - 02 Feb 2005
Profile Picture
Profile picture
Caption & credit
James Percival Coombes (R Coombes - BBC People’s War)
Biography

He was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Coombes. His father was born in Tony Stratford in Wiltshire, possibly explaining his son’s later choice of regiment. Joseph was a bus driver for the London Public Transport Board and they lived at 261 The Vale in Acton. James gained a London County Junior Scholarship in 1933, while the family were living at Buckingham Terrace, Kensington. He went on to attend St Clement Danes Grammar School in East Acton, matriculating in 1938. In his final year he showed he was not just academic, breaking the school long jump record. By Sep 1939 James (Jimmy) was a student in Oxford, lodging with Mr & Mrs Arthur Hill at 75 Weyland Road, Oxford. 

He married Daphne Margery Millest in Staines Middlesex late in 1941. The couple met in a pub in Hampton in early 1941 where Daphne’s younger sister Betty, aged just 15, worked as a barmaid. Their mother arrived and saw Daphne talking to a group of soldiers. She said "Betty stop talking to those common soldiers." To which Jimmy replied, "Who are you calling common."

Later in the war Daphne was walking in East Molesey, Surrey, when a jeep carrying American soldiers began to whistle and shout, which she ignored. One soldier called out, "Leave her sarge, that broad will only talk to officers." The local American soldiers later christened her Ginger Rogers, after the movie star.

They had two sons born Sep 1943 and Jun 1950.

Postings
Unit or location Role Posted from until
Dalby Hall, Lincolnshire Intelligence Officer 22 Apr 1944 Jul 1944
Lincolnshire Intelligence Officer Apr 1944 Jul 1944
National ID
DXBM 38/5
Regiment
The Wiltshire Regiment
Military number
247171
Commissioned or Enlisted
3 Oct 1942
Career

3 Oct 1942 Commissioned Second Lieutenant Wiltshire Regiment.

3 Apr 1943 Promoted Lieutenant. 

Captain Coombes appears to have taken over as Intelligence Officer for Lincolnshire in early 1944. He also appears to have been responsible for both Operational and Special Duties in the area, which happened in one or two other areas.

He is recorded as Specially Appointed in the Army List for Second Quarter 1944, which is typical of officers attached to Auxiliary Units.

8 Jul 1944 Promoted Temporary Captain. It is likely he may been appointed Acting Captain on joining Auxiliary Units at an earlier date as an Intelligence Officer, but this is not recorded.

He remained in the Army after the war.

9 Nov 1948 Transferred to the Intelligence Corps, retaining seniority 26 Apr 1945.

1 June 1950 Promoted Captain.

1 May 1954 Granted Acting Rank of Major.

26 Apr 1956 Promoted Major Territorial Army.

1 Nov 1956 Transferred to Territorial Army Reserve of Officers from Active List.

Address
75 Weyland Road, Oxford (1939)
Other pictures
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Caption & credit
Letter with Capt Coombes copied in (TNA)
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Caption & credit
Cancellation of exercise note sent by Captain Coombes (J Woodcock)
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Caption & credit
Captain J P Coombes signature (J Woodcock)
Profile picture
Caption & credit
James Percival and Daphne Margery Coombes wedding photo (R Coombes, BBC People’s War)
References

WO 199/3265

Dave Hunter / Mark Sans

BBC

Quarterly Army List 1944 Third Quarter p1248f

London Gazette 3 Nov 1942, 1 Feb 1949, 21 July 1950, 11 June 1954, 21 Dec 1956, 18 Sep 1956

Marylebone Mercury 16 Jul 1933

Middlesex County Times 20 Jul 1938

Acton Gazette 21 Jul 1939

1939 Register

Ancestry UK